The palace always looked most serene just before the day broke – when the sky was still indigo and the moon stubbornly clung to its throne.
She awoke to silence, which felt deliberate. The hush of silk-draped walls, the stillness of the air not yet stirred by servants.
She lay on the bed for a moment, eyes half-closed, buried in the comfort of her velvet sheets as she stared at the chandelier above. A thin beam of early morning light spilled in through the stained-glass window, painting soft hues of rose and gold across the ceiling.
It was warm. She must've fallen asleep with the covers pulled too high again.
Her body protested as she sat up slowly. The heaviness of sleep clung onto her shoulders. Her hair fell over her shoulders.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in Renna," she said without looking.
The door opened with a slow creak. A girl stepped in – petite, composed and wearing a maid outfit. She held a silver tray with a covered kettle and a single cup.
"Your Highness," she greeted as she set the tray down on the bedside table. "The Council's morning brief has been postponed. Master Vanith has asked that you use the time to rest."
"Did he, now?" she arched a brow.
Renna chuckled. "He meant no offense, Your Highness. He simply fears your collapse more than your disapproval. Besides… you've barely slept for the past few days."
She rose from the bed and walked towards the window. Outside, the garden maze still wore the shadows of the night.
"Has there been… any word?" she asked softly.
Renna's smile slowly faded as she shook her head. "No, Your Highness. His trail still ends beyond the Greywood Pass. The scouts returned empty-handed…"
"And… her?" she added.
Renna hesitated. "…No change."
The air turned colder.
"She barely speaks now," Renna went on quietly. "Sometimes, she whispers ancient scriptures that we don't recognize. Sometimes, she just stares at the walls as if she could see something that isn't there."
The girl placed a hand against the window.
Three months… It had been three months. But the palace now felt like a mausoleum – all gleaming marble and rotting silence.
She turned slowly and walked back to the bed. Her eyes landed on the tray as Renna poured out the herbal brew, and next to it, a slice of cinnamon bread.
Renna clasped her hands. "Would you like to eat in the hall?"
"No. Here is fine."
A pause.
Then, suddenly. "Renna… do you remember Calen?"
The servant blinked. "Of course. Everyone does."
She smiled faintly. "He had this ridiculous habit of sneaking up on guards and tying ribbons into their uniforms. Do you remember that spring festival where General Rythe found a pink bow on his scabbard during inspection?"
Renna laughed, covering her mouth. "Oh, gods. He almost had a seizure."
"He always used to tease me," the girl said, picking up a faded piece of cloth – a pink ribbon, frayed at the edges. "Said I was too 'queenly' and needed to be more 'human.'"
She twirled the ribbon between her fingers and then began weaving it gently into her hair.
"I never quite understood him," she murmured. "He wasn't noble. He wasn't trained. Not officially. He was just… always there."
Renna's smile softened. "He was like a ghost that cared."
"There," Renna echoed. "Always when someone needed him. Even volunteered for the expedition. He gave me a bell charm for my brother once. Said it'd keep him safe from nightmares."
The girl turned to the vanity, brushing a strand of gold hair beneath her ear. Her eyes – a rare amber – had darkened with weight in recent months.
"He used to tell me stories," she said quietly.
The girl turned towards Renna with a distant look in her eyes. "Do you think… maybe he knew something? Before he left?"
The entire room was filled with silence. Neither of them spoke.
She exhaled. "He… never said goodbye. He just…"
She didn't say the rest out loud, staring at the chair for a moment too long.
"…Calen," she murmured.
And just like that, the warmth faded a little.
Then, the girl rose from her bed and walked towards the wardrobe.
Renna blinked. "Your Highness?"
"That night," she said, opening the drawer and pulling out a dark-blue tunic. "He came to my door. I don't know what he was going to say. But I saw it in his eyes. He was scared."
She turned to Renna, but she had already lowered her gaze.
"Do you think he's still alive?"
Renna's lips parted, but she didn't speak.
"I… don't know," she said softly. "But I think he'd want you to be."
That landed heavier than expected.
The girl looked away.
The moment hung between them like a thread stretched to its limit.
"Your… Highness…?" Renna said softly.
No response.
"Your Highness!!"
A sharp clap followed.
The girl finally blinked, startled, and finally turned to look at Renna.
Renna grinned. "Alright, enough brooding for dawn, Your Highness. You're going to scare the cold bread."
The girl blinked.
"I brough cinnamon, remember?" Renna lifted the tray again. "Your favorite."
She finally reached for the tea. The aroma of herbs softened the ache in her chest. She took a bite of the warm bread, which was just sweet enough to bring back old memories.
Renna stepped to the window, drawing back the curtain a little further. "Sun's rising. Better show them you're still capable of running this kingdom without their permission."
The girl rose, adjusting the ribbon in her hair once more.
She stepped away from the chair.
"Arrange the Council meeting," she said. "Tell them to assemble in the eastern chamber. As soon as possible."
Renna dipped her head. "Yes, Your Highness."
And as the girl stepped into the light of morning, something in her spine had straightened.
Something in her eyes had sharpened.
It was going to be a long day.
But it would be her day.